This beginner-friendly woodworking project shows you how to build a genius wooden phone stand. Learn a simple, effective design that’s perfect for your desk or nightstand. Get your tools ready for a quick and rewarding DIY build!
Hey there, DIY friends! Jack here from Nailerguy. Ever find yourself juggling your phone while trying to work, read, or just relax? It’s a common hassle, right? Stacks of books, random boxes, or even your own hand – we’ve all tried them. But what if there was a simple, stylish solution you could build yourself? Today, we’re diving into a fantastic wooden phone stand woodworking project. You’ll be amazed at how a few simple cuts and some wood can create a super useful and good-looking accessory. We’ll walk through a genius design that’s incredibly easy for beginners, making sure you finish this project with a smile and a perfectly stable place for your phone. Get ready to transform a simple piece of wood into something truly helpful!
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a wooden phone stand design “genius”?
A “genius” design for a wooden phone stand is typically simple, stable, and functional. It uses basic woodworking techniques, requires minimal materials, and often incorporates clever angles or slots that hold your phone securely at an ergonomic viewing angle without tipping over. It’s also often aesthetically pleasing and durable.
What are the easiest woods to use for a beginner phone stand project?
For beginners, softwoods like pine or poplar are excellent choices. They are readily available, inexpensive, and easy to cut, drill, and sand. Hardwoods like oak or maple are more durable and look great, but they can be tougher to work with for those new to woodworking.
What tools do I absolutely need to build this?
You’ll need a few basic tools: a saw (a hand saw is fine, but a miter saw or jigsaw makes it quicker and more accurate), sandpaper, a ruler or measuring tape, a pencil, wood glue, and some clamps. A drill with a bit for pilot holes is also very helpful, especially if you plan to add screws for extra strength.
How long does a project like this usually take?
This type of project is quick! If you have all your tools and materials ready, you can often complete a wooden phone stand in an hour or two. Sanding and finishing will add a little more time, depending on your chosen finish (like oil or varnish).
Can I customize the design for different phone sizes or tablets?
Absolutely! The beauty of DIY is customization. You can easily adjust the width of the slot or the overall dimensions to perfectly fit larger smartphones, tablets, or even an e-reader. Just measure your device and adapt the plans accordingly.
What kind of finish should I use on my wooden phone stand?
A simple finish like natural wood oil (tung oil, linseed oil) or a clear polyurethane varnish will protect the wood and enhance its natural beauty. For a colored look, wood stain followed by a clear coat works well. Make sure the finish is non-toxic, especially if you plan to handle your phone frequently.
Where can I find good quality, affordable wood for this project?
Your local big-box home improvement stores (like Home Depot or Lowe’s) have excellent selections of affordable wood, especially pine and poplar. For higher quality or unique hardwoods, check out local lumber yards or specialty woodworking stores. Sometimes, you can even find scrap wood from construction sites or woodworking shops that would be perfect and cost-effective.
Your Blueprint: What You’ll Need for Your Genius Phone Stand
Alright, let’s talk gear! For this wooden phone stand woodworking project, we’re keeping it super simple. We want you to feel confident, so we’re sticking to tools most DIYers already have or can easily borrow. Think of this as your “superpower toolkit” for a quick win!
Essential Tools:
- Measuring Tape or Ruler: Accuracy is key, even for small projects!
- Pencil: For marking your cuts.
- Saw:
- Hand Saw: Totally doable! Just take your time for clean cuts.
- Miter Saw or Chop Saw: Makes angled and straight cuts super fast and accurate.
- Jigsaw: Great if you need to cut a curved slot, though for this design, straight is easier.
- Sandpaper: A few different grits (like 120 for shaping and 220 for smoothing) will do the trick.
- Wood Glue: Your best friend for strong joints.
- Clamps: To hold pieces together while the glue dries. Small bar clamps or even spring clamps work well.
- Drill and Drill Bits: For pilot holes (prevents wood splitting) and potentially for a cleaner slot cut with a jigsaw.
Materials:
- Wood: A piece of solid wood, about 1 inch thick, 3-4 inches wide, and 12 inches long. Pine, poplar, or even a nice piece of hardwood like oak or walnut will work beautifully. You can often find suitable lengths in the project panel section of your hardware store.
- Optional: Screws: 1-inch wood screws can add extra strength if you like.
- Optional: Finish: Wood stain, oil (like boiled linseed oil or tung oil), or clear polyurethane.
Remember, safety first! Always wear safety glasses when cutting or sanding. If you’re using power tools, make sure you understand how they work or have someone experienced guide you. We want this to be fun and safe!
The Genius Behind the Design: Simplicity and Stability
Why do we call this design “genius”? Because it’s incredibly effective without being complicated. The core idea is to create a stable base with a clever angle that props up your phone perfectly. No fancy joinery, no hard-to-cut curves – just smart geometry.
This design often involves two main pieces that slot together, or a single piece with a well-placed groove. The key is the angle. Too steep, and your phone might slide out. Too shallow, and it might not stand up well. We’re aiming for that sweet spot – usually around 30-45 degrees – that offers a comfortable viewing angle and keeps your device secure.
It’s a design that prioritizes:
- Stability: A wide base ensures it won’t tip over easily, even with a larger phone.
- Ergonomics: The angle reduces neck strain and makes swiping and viewing comfortable.
- Simplicity: Easy cuts mean less chance of error for beginners.
- Aesthetics: Natural wood adds warmth and style to any desk.
Building Your Genius Wooden Phone Stand: Step-by-Step
Let’s get building! This is where we turn that piece of wood into a functional piece of art for your desk. We’ll go through each step clearly. Remember to measure twice, cut once – it’s the oldest rule in woodworking for a reason!
Part 1: Cutting the Main Pieces
We’ll be making a simple, two-part “T” or “cross” design that fits together. It’s stable and easy to assemble.
Step 1: Measure and Mark Your Wood
- Take your 1-inch thick wood. You’ll need a piece about 3-4 inches wide and about 7-8 inches long for the back support.
- You’ll need another piece, the same width (3-4 inches), and about 5-6 inches long for the front base.
Step 2: Cut the First Piece (Back Support)
- Cut your first piece to 7-8 inches in length. This will be the tall part that holds your phone up.
- On this piece, we need to create a slot for the base piece to slide into. We’ll do this by making two cuts.
- Measure about 2.5 to 3 inches up from the bottom edge of this piece. Mark a line across its width.
- Now, mark two parallel lines, about the width of your wood (3-4 inches) apart, running from the top edge down to that 2.5-3 inch mark. The goal is to cut out a rectangular section, leaving a slot connected at the bottom.
- Pro Tip: The width of this slot should be precisely the thickness of your wood. If your wood is 3/4 inch thick, your slot needs to be 3/4 inch wide.
Step 3: Cut the Second Piece (Front Base)
- Cut your second piece to 5-6 inches in length. This will form the stable base.
- Now, on this piece, we need to cut a matching slot. This slot needs to be on the edge, perpendicular to the length.
- Measure about halfway along the width of this 5-6 inch piece. Make a mark.
- Now, from that edge (the 3-4 inch side), measure inwards by the same distance you measured up on the first piece (2.5 to 3 inches). Mark a line.
- The cut needs to be exactly the width of your back support piece. So, if your back piece is 1 inch thick, this cut needs to be 1 inch wide.
Here’s a visual to help understand the cuts:
| Piece | Dimensions (approx.) | Cut Description |
|---|---|---|
| Back Support | 1” thick x 3-4” wide x 7-8” long | Cut a slot from the top edge down about 2.5-3 inches, leaving the bottom 2.5-3 inches intact. The slot width matches the thickness of the base wood. |
| Front Base | 1” thick x 3-4” wide x 5-6” long | Cut a slot from one edge inwards by about 2.5-3 inches. The slot width matches the thickness of the back support wood. |
Step 4: Making the Cuts (The Tricky Part!)
- For the Back Support Slot: You can use a table saw for very precise dados, but a handsaw and chisel work too. Mark your slot boundaries clearly. Make two parallel cuts along your marked lines, as deep as you marked (2.5-3 inches). Then, carefully remove the wood between these cuts. A router with a straight bit is also a great option if you have one. Alternatively, if using a jigsaw, you can drill a starter hole inside your marked rectangular area and cut carefully.
- For the Front Base Slot: This cut is like cutting a dado across the edge. A table saw is easiest. If using a handsaw, carefully mark your lines and make the cut. Using a jigsaw here is also possible by drilling a starter hole and cutting along the line.
Safety Note: When cutting slots, especially with a handsaw or jigsaw, take your time. Steady hands are key. If using power tools like a table saw, ensure you understand kickback risks and use safety practices. Always keep your fingers well away from the blade.
Step 5: Test Fit
- Gently try to slide the two pieces together. They should fit snugly, forming a stable “T” or “cross” shape.
- If the fit is too tight, use sandpaper or a chisel to carefully widen the slots a little. If it’s too loose, you might need to redo the cuts or add a shim later.
Part 2: Creating the Phone Groove
Now that our stand structure is ready, we need to add the part that actually holds your phone – the groove!
Step 6: Mark the Groove Location
- Stand the two pieces together in their “T” formation.
- On the top surface of the front base piece (the horizontal part), measure about 0.5 to 0.75 inches in from the front edge. Mark a line all the way across the width of this piece. This is where your phone will rest.
Step 7: Create the Groove
- Using a Table Saw: Set your blade height to about 0.5 inches. Make a cut along the line you marked. Then, adjust the fence and pass the wood through again, about 0.25 to 0.5 inches away from the first cut, to create a channel. The width of this channel should be slightly wider than your phone’s thickness (around 0.5 inches is usually good for most phones with cases).
- Using a Router: Use a straight bit and a guide or fence to create a channel approximately 0.5 inches wide and 0.5 inches deep along your marked line.
- Using a Hand Saw and Chisel (More labor-intensive): Mark the boundaries of your groove (about 0.5 inches wide). Carefully make shallow saw cuts along these lines. Then, use a sharp chisel to carefully remove the wood between the lines, aiming for a depth of about 0.5 inches.
- Using a Jigsaw: This can be tricky to get perfectly clean. Drill a starter hole within your marked groove area. Carefully cut along the marked lines. You’ll likely need to do some sanding to smooth it out.
Considerations for the Groove:
- Width: Make it just a bit wider than your phone, especially if you use a case.
- Depth: Around 0.5 inches is good for most phones. Too shallow, and the phone might slip out; too deep, and it might be hard to remove.
- Angle: The angle of the front piece naturally creates the viewing angle. You don’t need to angle the groove itself unless you’re doing a completely different design.
Part 3: Assembly and Finishing Touches
We’re almost there! Time to make it sturdy and beautiful.
Step 8: Glue and Clamp
- Apply a thin, even layer of wood glue into the slots on both pieces.
- Carefully slide the two pieces together until they form a solid joint.
- Use clamps to hold the pieces firmly together. Make sure the pieces are perpendicular and the stand sits flat. Wipe away any excess glue that squeezes out with a damp cloth immediately – dried glue is hard to remove and can prevent stain from adhering properly.
- Let the glue dry completely according to the manufacturer’s instructions (usually several hours, or overnight for best results).
Step 9: Optional Screw Reinforcement
- Once the glue is dry, for extra durability, you can add a couple of 1-inch wood screws.
- Drill pilot holes first to prevent the wood from splitting. Place screws strategically where they won’t be visible or interfere with the phone groove. For example, one screw going through the side of the base into the back support, or a couple going up through the base into the back support.
Step 10: Sanding is Key!
- Once fully assembled, it’s time to sand. Start with a coarser grit like 120 to smooth out any rough edges, saw marks, or imperfections. The slots, groove edges, and any corners are prime spots for sanding.
- Follow up with a finer grit, like 220, for a silky-smooth finish. This really makes the wood feel professional.
- Wipe away all the dust with a clean cloth or tack cloth.
Step 11: Apply a Finish (Optional but Recommended)
- This is where your stand goes from nice to WOW!
- For a Natural Look: Apply a wood oil like tung oil or boiled linseed oil. Apply with a cloth, let it soak in for 15-20 minutes, then wipe off any excess. This enhances the wood grain and provides some protection. You might need a second coat.
- For Protection: A clear polyurethane varnish or lacquer will offer more durability. Apply thin coats with a brush, letting each coat dry completely and sanding lightly with very fine grit sandpaper (320 or higher